(An interesting point was brought up. We based Hinata's personality more like Naruto The Last Movie. At 20ish she would be more dominant, in a quiet way. She knows what she wants, and she's also a firm realist. Hinata in that movie best expresses what she would be in her adult life. The Boruto Movie, that's even more true. So that's why you don't see the stuttering, blushing, entire mess that Hinata was in her younger years portrayed here.)

Butterflies or beetles: Chapter 4

Shino held his breath as he witnessed Sakura holding one of his insects for the first time. He could tell she was nervous without her black gloves. She flinched a little when the small creature stepped into her palm.

He didn't want to spook Sakura too early, especially with so much riding on her enormous chakra levels. She, would prove a valuable host to a full Kikaichu hive, if only she would tolerate such a thing. Whoever he married would have to cultivate a hive of their own, becoming a host themselves. It was a simple law of his clan, but one that often left those outside of it edgy, and sometimes even disgusted. He hadn't told Sakura the truth yet, afraid that she wasn't ready to know. Honestly, he didn't know how to tell the pink haired woman either, because it wasn't common knowledge.

He couldn't find the words right then, and mentally kicked himself.

The only person outside of his clan he had ever told was Hinata, and that was out of a direct need to do so. The Hyuga was well aware what Shino's clan required, and she had known that would be expected. Ever since she was a young girl, training as a genin, she had always respected Shino's relationship with the tiny creatures.

The next day when he visited Hinata.

Hinata lay against the tree nearest her room, many of Shino's Kikaichu swarming around her arms and legs. Some of them made their way under her pant legs and into her shirt. They were looking for their too precious chakra fix. She didn't pay them any mind as she listened to Shino's story about his date. He was vague, but Hinata knew him well enough to interpret his words.

"So, after all of that, I let Anita walk onto her hand." The young man said honestly. "Was kind of hoping that Sakura would want to keep her, but after a short time, she gave Anita back."

"I'm kind of glad she did." Hinata knew that Shino liked his bugs to wander free when they could, but Sakura was still pretty new to his lifestyle. "I don't think she would take kindly to Anita wandering back and forth all the time unannounced."

"You're right." Shino admitted, but that didn't stop that tiny pang of rejection he felt. "I just thought that maybe she might like Anita."

"I think you just need to give her some time." Hinata said to him after giving it a lot of thought. "I'm pretty sure that if you show her what your body looks like, she'll be less afraid of them."

"I don't think that's a very good idea right now." His hand rested on his upper left arm. "I don't want to scare her away. I've got some new tunnels, and there's a little bit of blood."

Hinata sighed, opening her eyes, though she remained still. She tactfully avoided the fact that he was being completely silly. "Just show her, and be honest." Sakura was a kunoichi, a medical one at that. A little bit of blood wouldn't phase Sakura in the least. "At least you'll know her resolve. If she can't even bear the thought of having a hive, then you know she's unsuitable for marriage."

"I'm still coming to terms with the fact that you're okay with it." He watched his insects as they skittered around in the grass, on the tree, all over himself, and Hinata. "It's rare, I can't ask for blind acceptance. I know that, but even so."

She offered him a self-deprecating little frown. "Well, the idea of owning a hive doesn't exactly excite me." She told him honestly. "I'm just indifferent to the idea."

Shino tried to picture Sakura in the same position, and he couldn't fathom it. "I can't think of many people who would be indifferent to a bunch of bugs making a home out of their body."

"It's not painful." Hinata replied with a gentle shrug. "I don't think I've ever see them get in your way or anything." She tapped at another bug who thought to start making a nest on the back of her hand. "Even when they do manage to get under my skin, I can't say that it bothers me. I don't even feel it. I just end up seeing the bite marks later, heal them, and go on with my life."

"You can feel a whole hive." Shino said quietly. "I feel mine. They may stay out of the way when I need them to, but, I doubt that'll be enough for most women."

"My body would adapt." Hinata told him. "Sakura's would too. Your wife would get used to it." There wasn't any other choice in the matter. Hinata and Shino both knew that.

Hinata batted at her ear when one of the young males tried to crawl inside. When it tried again, she flicked a tiny spark of malicious chakra at him. He flew back to the safety of Shino immediately. He perched on Shino's nose, clearly looking for sympathy to his plight.

"You know better." Shino said plainly to the small bug, gesturing to his own ear. "In, now."

Hinata found herself perplexed at the whole display. "Are you okay? The younger ones have been getting more insistent about burrowing."

He pulled off his sunglasses, leaning over her, blocking out the sunlight that drifted through the branches. "We both know that we aren't being practical. We're still being quite unreasonable, and the bugs instinctively know that."

Hinata looked deeply into Shino's dark brown eyes. They had an undeniable history, and it served them well as Hinata lifted her fingers to run through his spiky brown hair. She had to admit, maybe they were being a little unreasonable when it came to the arrangement. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. Although she trusted Shino, implicitly, she also wasn't a mind reader. She had no idea what he was thinking.

Honestly, her own mind was a slow crawl. "Are you saying that because you're afraid of Sakura rejecting you?" She had to know.

His mouth felt like sand paper. "She is suitable." Shino said distantly, putting his glasses back on. "So are you."

That wasn't the problem though. It was hard to say, but she knew she had to ask. "Am I suitable?"

He couldn't look at her as he squared his shoulders. "Do you doubt that?"

She gave him a slightly annoyed look. "I am a suitable host for Kikaichu hive. However, I'm starting to suspect that you don't find me suitable when it comes to other matters."

"The last time I tried…"

"We were sixteen." Hinata rebuked.

Shino nodded.

She sat up carefully, so as not to disturb the Kikaichu. "Things are difference, the circumstances are more imperative now. We aren't the same as we were then."

Again Shino nodded.

"And this is why we find ourselves being unreasonable." Hinata told him, though there wasn't an ounce of blame in her voice. It was purely fact, soft, honest. "We're better friends than lovers, and we both acknowledge that."

"But if I can't get Sakura to accept me…" He sighed, shaking his head.

"I'll talk to Sakura about the hive." Hinata said, deciding that Shino really could use the help. "I've got some tunnels on my arms that I haven't healed yet. I'll let her see some of the Kikaichu that follow me around. I don't think she'll be as nervous about it if she sees someone from outside of the clan interacting with them."

"You would do that for me?" Shino asked, hardly hoping.

Hinata nodded, as she leaned against his side, head resting on his shoulder. She cared too much about him to see him struggling on his own. "I want you to be happy. If Sakura makes you happy, then I will help her to understand."

Over at Ino's house, Choji wasn't having so easy a time.

"Barbecue, really Choji?" Ino couldn't help but lament at her friend's idea of a first date. "Please tell me that wasn't all. It was a nice night, so you should have made the most of it. Maybe took her out stargazing, or to a movie, or something."

"We took a walk…" Choji said, feeling a little upset for not thinking of something else.

"Well did you at least sweep her off her feet?" The blonde asked. "Bring her something nice when you picked her up, give her a goodbye kiss, things like that?"

Choji shook his head. "We talked about our clans."

"You talked about…your clans…" Ino couldn't believe it, and visibly deflated. Her good mood turned to exasperation. "Why?"

"Hinata brought it up, and well, it seemed like a good idea at the time." Choji wasn't sure why he felt comfortable talking about that. "I know it wasn't the best thing to talk about, but there is one good thing I learned though."

"Oh really…" Ino leaned in, giving the large man a searching look. "So, what then?"

"She doesn't hate me…"

"Why would she hate you? You're one of the nicest guys I know."

Choji ran a hand over his belly. He wasn't completely fat, he was stocky, and his muscles were huge. "You know what they say about nice guys finishing last. I don't know, I guess I thought it would hold true." He had a lot of power behind his swing. He wasn't exactly the best looking guy though, and he knew that. "I know what I'm up against. A lot of the men in our age bracket are completely ripped. I guess, I thought...I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Being skinny for you is a bad thing." Ino reminded him, not wanting to dwell too much on his near death experiences. "You know Sai isn't built like that, and I'm all over him."

"That's true but, he's skinny."

"Idiot."

"What'd I do now?"

Ino rubbed her face, a sigh falling from between her lips. "Look, do you plan to go on another date with Hinata, or not?"

He had the decency to look thoroughly admonished. "I wasn't sure if she wanted to. I didn't ask. I thought I'd give her some time to think about it first."

Ino let her head fall onto the wooden table. "You're sweet, but God you're going to be the death of me…"